Machine for making wired box parts



Jan. 14, 1941 E. M. FLoRcYK ETAL MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRED BOX PARTS 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 19. v1939 Jan. 14, E M FLORCYK ETAL MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRED BOX PARTS Filed Jan. 19, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/g. 3. 'Y

INVENTOR` Edward M. F/arcyk. Richard L. Hice. By Glan F! oodbury.

ATTORNEY Jan. 14, l94l- E. M. FLoRcYK ErAL MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRED BOX PARTS e sheetssheet 3 Filed Jan. 19. 1939 alfnmnmmmuw IN V EN TORS' Wao bur): ELM

Edward M. F/orc Richard L, Rice. y Glen P,

ATmRNEY Jan. 14, 1941.

E. M. FLORCYK ETALl MACHINE Fon MAKING wIRED'BoX PARTS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 19, 1939 Y Y (only,

Jam 14, 1941. E. M. FLoRcYK nm.'

MACHINE FOR MAKING 4WIRED BOX PARTS Filed Jan. 19, A1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTO M F/orc` R/c/mrd L. Rice.

'4*'- By Glen P. Woodbury.

A TTORNEY Jall- 14, 1941- E. M. FLoRcYK Erm. 2,228,304

MACHINE FOR MAKING' WIRED BOX PARTS l Filed Jan. 19, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS Edward M. Flarcyk. Ric/:ard L. Rice. Glan P. Woodbury.

mR/VEY F/g. /3. BY

Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR. MAKING WIRED BOX PARTS poration of Delaware Application January 19, 1939, Serial No. 251,744

13 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for equipping wired box parts with fasteners adapted to connect one box part with another box part, and particularly to the means for controlling the feed of the box parts and the operations of the fastener supplying instrumentalities.

It is an object of the invention to provide an automatic electrical control for a fastener supplying machine of the character described.

'It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic control for such a machine, which is dependable and accurate in its operations.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a fastener supplying machine embodying the invention, together with a portion of a box blank machine. This view shows the manner in which a succession of wire-connected box blanks are automatically fed froma box blank machine to and through a fastener supplying machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, on a larger scale, of the fastener supplying ,machina with certain parts omitted for clearness, showing the spaced relationship of two separate box blanks as they :are`fed through the machine. In this View, the forward edge of the incoming box blank is about to actuate the electrical control to cause a fastener supplying operation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is the same as Fig. 4, but showing the parts in the position occupied by them during a different phase in the cycle of operation.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a section taken on the line 6 5 of Fig. 3, showing a safety device that prevents any movement of the box part feeding mechanism during a fastener supplying operation.

Figd'i is a top plan View of the same.

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the electrical control of the fastener supplying machine.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged front View of the clutch mechanism that controls the movements of the feed belts. This View is taken from the opposite side of the machine as shown in Fig. 4, and shows the parts in clutching engagement.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Fig. 11 is the same as Fig. 9, but shows the parts in non-clutching engagement.

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of portions of two wire-connected box blanks as they are fed into the machine of this invention.

Fig. 13 is a perspective View of acompleted box blank.

As conducive to a better understanding of this invention it should be noted that a machine of the general type herein disclosed is shown and described in the copending application of A. L. Rosenmund, Serial Number 134,789, filed April 3, 1937, and patented June 6, 1939, Patent 2,160,200, and that this invention is an improvement in the type of machine disclosed in said Rosenmund application. c f

In the machine of Asaid Rosenmund application, wired box parts are fed automatically from a box blank machine to and through a fastener supplying machine, which severs the wires between box parts, bends the severed wire ends to form U-shaped bights or fasteners, and drives the ends of the wires into the box parts to perpetuate the bights. `In said machine, mechanical means are provided to control the feed of the box parts and the operations ofthe bight forming instrumentalities in accordance with the passage of the box parts` through the machine. While the mechanical control means of said Rosenmund `machine operated successfully, it sometimes lacked a desired uniformity and accuraey of operation, due to the complexity and multiplicity of the operating parts. The present invention is intended to substitute for the complicated mechanical control means of the Rosenmund machine an electrical control means which assures a uniform, accurate control of the work feeding means and the bight forming operations to produce a more uniform and better box product.`

Figs. 1 and 2 show the delivery end of a'box blank machine, designated A, and a fastener supplying machine, designated B, together with a succession of box blanks being fed from machine A to and through machine B.

As shown and describedin said Rosenmund application, the endless conveyor chains of the box blank machine A move continuously, while the endless feed belts of the machine B are at rest during a fastener supplying operation; therefore, the string of box blanks in the space between the two machines assumes variousA positions, as shown in full and Vdotted lines, respectively, in Fig. 2.

To correlate the continuous feed of machine A with the intermittent feed of machine B, a feed control for machine B is provided. `Additional controls are provided to stop the feed of the feed belts and throw the fastener supplying mechanism into operation when a box part is in proper a control box I, through a connection 2.l A-

push button switch 3 controls the'flowl of current to the circuits beyond thencontrokbox I.' L When push button switch 3 is f operated to close the circuit, a motor 4 and the circuits hereinafter described are energized through a magneticline starter 11.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, with motor 4 rotating.Y motion will be transmitted to a clutch sprocket I2 by means of a sprocket 5, a .chain 6, Vand a sprocket 7, thence to gears in a-gear box 8, and .thence `to a sprocket .9 yon a shaft I0. and to a chainl I. Clutch :sprocket I2 houses a clutching mechanisml v (hereinafter. described in detail) `.which Inayr-be clutchedpr-declutched to adrive lshaft I3 at anypointinits. revolution. .Feed

belts- I4, which feed. the-boxparts through the machine, are -drivenby drive. .shaft .j I 3,. .through bevel gears I5, shafts I6, andpulleysf IJ. on shafts I3. Thuspthe belts- I4` move. only ,when drive v shaft I3A iscaused to .rotate by .the .clutch mech- -anism-.in clutch-sprocket I2. .Asshown'in Figs.

4 yand 5, the clutch mechanismhousedin clutch sprocket I2 is actuated `by al solenoid 31, either byapplyingor releasingv a brake V.ba-nd. 43 on a brake drumr 44.

- "The starting and stopping of .the belts I4 by @solenoid -31 is'controlledby the.. position of .the string of 'boxblanksintheir travel from machine A.to machineB.- As. shown in Figs. 1 and.2, a

roller I8 rides uponthe top surfaceof the string of--box blanks at assuitablepoint between-the delivery end of machine A andthe receiving. end

' of machineB. .Roller I8` is rotatably mounted Aon a yoke-I9,..Which is pivotally` connected to an arm 20 at 2| ITheroppositeend of-arm-f29 is adjustably secured on. a rock shaft 122, .which is f journaled at each end in bearings .23.

Permanentlysecured to an angle on .rockshaft -22 .is an .armi M24..carrying `adjustably.. thereon acounterbalance: 25 to Work in .conjunction with roller 1I8. Referring -to Figs. 2 and 4 and particularly to Fig. 4, there is shown a downwardly ,extending member 126 pivotally mountedat 2l lon.. av collar .1.28 Vadjustablyxsecured `on arm 124. ,Member2'1is pvotally secured at itsk lower .-'ex- -1 tremity to a.- lever ."29. at 33.. The 1other-end of lever 29 is loosely attachedfto a supporting frame.

- Near the lower extremity'of yrneniberfElfare adjustably-secur'ed apair vof blocks 3l .conveniently .spaced to-receivev between them aswitch lever 32,;'Which sattachedto the operating mecha- "When ,the box blanks, .with the roller -|8 resting thereon, .assume the .full line position D (Fig. 2),the blocks '3| on member 26 actuateswitch 33, which has an interlocking-arrangement with a. circuit from a switch Y49, as will be more fully described hereinafter; Thecircuit; through Wires 34, box'35,.and wires in cable 36 isnow broken, and solenoid 3,'Ldeenergized (Fig. 4).

-When solenoid -3`I 1 is deenergized,` the rotating clutch sprocket I2 is clutched to shaft I3, as

presently described, to cause a feed movement of feed belts I4.

When the box blanks and roller I3 assume the dotted line position C (Fig. 2), the blocks 3l on member 26 (Fig. 5) actuate switch 33 to close the circuit through wires 34, box 35, and wires in .cable l36, thus energizing solenoid 31, causing disengagement l'of the clutch Amechanism and stopping the motion of feed belts I4 and also the feeding of box blanks.

The mechanism for clutching sprocket I2 to shaft I3 will now be described. i As .shown in Fig, 9, there is keyed to shaft I3 a member 85. Pivotally connected to the mem- .1ber`85iat'84 is a lug 33, to which is secured one endv of a. clutch. band 82, which, when expanded into. contact with a.. drum surface 8| of sprocket '|2, causes shaft I3 to rotate with sprocket I2 inthedirection of the arrow in Fig. 9. Clutch band S2 is expanded through the actionof a spring 93, one end of .which is attached to aprojection'SI on member 65 and the' other end of which is attached to a stud 92 in a projection 93 on a rocker member 89. Rocker member89 is freely mounted on a hub 33 of member 85 andI through a toggle link' 88 is connected to a lug 31 secured to the other end of clutch band' 82. Spring 9E] normally holds rocker member 89 and toggle link 88 in the position shown in Fig. 9, and when rocker member 89 and toggle link 88 are in this position the rearend of clutch band 32 is forced into contact with drum surfaceLSI. This` frictional engagement between the rearend of the band 82 andthe revolving drum surface 8l causes clutching engagement between thetwo` throughout substantially the entire length of the clutch band and causes rotation of shaft I3.

To break the toggle against .the action of .spring 99 and release the clutching engagement between theband 82 and the drum' surface 8| a brake band 43 is applied to a brakedrum 44 carried by rocker member 89. Whenbrake band 43. is applied tobrake drum 44, movement of rocker member '89 is arrested. This breaks the toggle 88 anddraws clutch band 82 away` from drum surface 8|, as shown in Fig. 11.

, Brake band .43y is operated by a suitable toggle (not shown) carried by a 4rocker lever 42. Lever 42 is normally held in the .position shown in Figs. 4 and 9 by ay spring45, one end of Which is attached to a stud 45 onthelower extremity of lever 42 and the other end of which is attached to the machin-e frame. When in thisrposition,

brake bandr 43 is released, thus permitting spring 99 to clutch4 sprocket I 2 to shaft I3.

Lever 42is moved against the action of spring 45, shown in Figs. 5 and 10,- by a buffer 41 carriedby a rod 4I, `Whichpassesl through a bore in the upper end of lever 42 and is connected to a bell crank 43, which, in turn, is connected by a link 39 to a solenoid member 38 of solenoid 31.

When solenoid 31 is energized, member 38is drawn upward and, through the linkage described, moves lever 42 against-the action of spring 45 toapply brake ban-d 43 on brake `drum 44 to disconnect the clutch.

When solenoid 31 is deenergized, `spring 45 moves lever 42 to release'brake band43and permit spring 99 to clutch sprocket I2 to shaft I3.`

With the roller I8 in the full line position D (Fig. 2), the belts I4 continue to feed'the box blanks until the leading end of a boxblank arrives at a predetermined point in the machine B. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the. forward edge of the incoming box blank contacts a trigger 48,

moving it in a line parallel with the box blank travel. The movement of trigger 48 actuates switch 49 through a rock lever 58, a connecting link 5I, `and a switch lever 52, which is secured to the mechanism in switch 49. To return this linkage to its initial position there is provided a spring 53, with one end secured to connecting link 5l and the other end fastened to a stud 54. By actuating switch 4S as shown in Fig. 5, the circuit is closed through cable 55, which energizes a magnetic contactor 18 located in control box I and thus closes contacts 19 and 80 of magnetic contactor 18. Two operations are thus performed automatically and instantly. The closing of contacts 19 completes the circuit through cable 56 to box 35 .and through cable 35 to energize solenoid 31, thus declutching the feed mechanism by attraction of linkage, as hereinbefore mentioned, to apply brake band 43 on clutch drum 44.

The closing of contacts 88 completes the circuit through cab-le 51 to energize a solenoid 58, thus causing the attraction of a member 59 and raising a latch 68, by means of a link connection, from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5. Latch Bil, loosely mounted on a shaft 6|, is provided with a safety hook 82 at one end and a downwardly projecting portion B3 at the other. As latch 69 is raised, a lug 64 on projection 63 is forced against a buffer arrangement 65 secured on a reduced portion of a rod 66 which extends through a bore in projection 63. The rod 65 imparts a rocking motion to a shaft 68 by means of its connection to a casting 51, which is keyed to shaft 68. The shaft 68 at its other end has keyed thereon a lever 69, connected to proper linkage, which causes the main clutch of one cycle design to become engaged by the movement imparted to clutch yoke 19. As fully described in the aforementioned application of Rosenmund, when the main clutch is engaged the table T lowers to present the binding wires and box blanks to the mechanism provided to perform a fastener supplying operation thereon. When table T is lowered, a projection 1l, fixed to the machine frame, contacts the under surface of trigger 48 and causes it to be raised, thus removing it from the path of travel of the box blank being operated upon when it resumes its travel. With the return of the table T to its initial position the trigger 48 rests upon the top surface of the box blank as it moves through the machine B, until the succeeding gap occurs between box blanks, and dropping therein, positions the forward edge of the incoming box blank. In order to prevent any movement of the box blanks during a fastener supplying operation there is provided a safety mechanism, shown generally in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and in detail in Figs. 6 and '1. With the solenoid 31 energized (Fig. 5) causing the attraction of member 38 and rod 4I, a block 12, which is adjustably mounted on rod 4I at a predetermined point, moves from the path of a latch 13, loosely mounted in a bracket 14 which is secured to the main frame. As shown in broken lines (Fig. 6) and in full lines (Fig. '1) the latch 13 rests upon the rod 4I adjacent to the block 12 and keeps the brake band 43 applied on clutch drum 44 until table T rises. To return the latch 13 to its initial position there is provided a bracket 15 secured to the under surface of table T and projecting toward and a suiiicient distance below latch 13. As table T rises, the bracket 15 contacts an adjustable screw 16 projecting through latch 13, thereby raising latch 13 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6, and permits brake band 43 to be released from clutch drum 44 when the solenoid 31 is deenergized to resume the feeding of box blanks.

In Fig. 13 is shown one product of the machine, namely, a box blank having the wire ends provided with U-shaped bights, designated b and b. When the blank is folded into box form, the bights b are passed through the bights b and bent down `against the box side to close the boxsl To insure a tight closure it is necessary that the bights extend a proper predetermined distance from the end edges of the blank. If they extend too far or not far enough, a poor box closure will result. i

Among other advantages, the electrical control for the work feed and for the bight forming `instrumentalities insures a uniform and accurate location of each bight in proper relation to the box part edge.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiment herein shown for illustration.

It will be understood further that the word bight as `used in the specification and the claims is not to be limited to the particular U-shaped bight shown in Fig. 13. The bight or fastener may be substantially in loop form or in some other form suitably adapted to connect one box part with another box part or to serve as part of a connection between one box part and another box part.

We claim:

1. A machine for equipping a box part with fastening means adapted to connect the box part with another box part, comprising instrumentalities operable upon a flexible binder secured to a box part to form and perpetuate a bight on said binder, and electrically controlled means to feed the box part to said instrumentalities.

2. A machine for equipping a box part with fastening means adapted to connect the box part with another box part, comprising instrumentalities operable upon a flexible binder secured to a box part to form and perpetuate a bight on said binder, and electrically controlled means to operate said instrumentalities.

3. A machine for equipping a box part with fastening means adapted to connect the box part with another box part, comprising instrumentalities operable upon a flexible binder secured to a box part to form and perpetuate a bight on said binder, and electrically controlled means to feed the box part to said instrumentalities and to operate said instrumentalities.

4. In a machine having instrumentalities for forming a loop or bight on a exible binder secured to a box part and having mechanism for feeding the box part to said instrumentalities, electrical control means to cause an operation of said instrumentalities when the box part is in correct position to be operated upon.

5. In a machine having instrumentalities for forming a loop or bight on a flexible binder secured to a box part and having mechanism for feeding the box part to said instrumentalities, electrical contr-ol means to interrupt the feed of the box part and throw said instrumentalities into operation.

6. In a machine having instrumentalities for forming a loop or bight on a flexible binder secured to a box part and having mechanism for feeding the box part to said instrumentalities, electrical control means to interrupt the feed of the box part, to throw said instrumentalities into foperation-` whilethe :boxi part: is iatrest; and to cause l the :feedingi mechanismto :resume itsY feed ...of then-box partvafter'theoperation-of Vsaid instrumentalites.

'7.'. In aI machine having. instrument-alities for forming vloops or bights on a flexible binder secured to a `succession of box .parts vand having 1.rmechanismforfeeding the boxparts tosaid ini strumentalities;electrical control'means to cause an operation-of said Iinstrumentalities whenthe box :part is in correct position to be operated upon.

8;.In a. machine havingy instrumentalitesfor forming loops or nights on a eXibIeY-binder secured to a succession of box parts` and having tmechanism for feeding the box parts to said instrumentalities, electrical control means to inter- Arupt th -feed of the boxpart and Vthrow said 1 `instrumentalities.into ope-ration.

9. In a machine having instrumentalties for `forming loops orbights on a flexiblebinder se- .cured to asuccession of box parts `and having mechanism for feeding the boxparts to said in- .strumentalitiea electrical control means toI in- :terrupt the feedof the vbox part,A to lthrow said instrumentalities into operationwhile the box vpart is at rest, and to cause the feeding mecha- .:nism to resume its feed of the-boxpart after the operation of said instrumentalities.

`\10. In a machine havinginstrumentalities for forming a; loop or bight on a flexible binder secured to a box part and having mechanism for feeding the box part to said instrumentalities,

'electrical means controlled by. the boxpart in its r passage vthrough the machineA to .cause anfoperation of said instrumentalitieswhen the box :part is in correct position Ito be operated upon.

- 11.- In a machine having instrumentalitiesfon forming a loop or bight on a exible Vbinder secured to a` box part and having mechanism for feeding the box part to said instrumentalities, electrical means controlled `byl the boxrpart in its passage through thewmachine to interrupt the ffeedof' the box part and throw said instrumentalities into operation.

12. In a machine having instrumentalities for forming loops o-r bights lon a flexible binder secured to a successionr of box-*parts and having mechanism for feeding the boxpartsto-'said instrumentalities; electrical means .controlled in accordance With'the passage of the box-parts through the machine to cause an operation of "said instrumentalities when the loo-X part is in correct'.

position tofbe operated upon.

13. In a machinehaving instrumental-ities for forming loops or` bights on a flexible-binder secured to asuccessionV ofbox'parts and having mechanism for feeding the box-parts to vsaid vin-v 

